Table of contents for November - December 2016 - January 2017 in Flightpath

The first Hurricane to fly in Australia since 1946, when the one and only A60-1 (V7476) last flew, took to the air on 2 September with Ross Pay at the controls. Imported in April 2014, the aircraft is the former Canadian-based Russell Aviation Group Hawker Hurricane Mk.XII (Serial No 5481) C-FDNL (see Flightpath Vol.25, No.3). Sold to Australian interests by Platinum Fighter Sales, the Hurricane immediately entered the Vintage Fighter Restorations facility at the Pay’s Airservices Scone, New South Wales, base. There it was fully refurbished before being reassembled. Over the past two years, the Merlin has been overhauled and the airframe repaired, re-covered and repainted. Owned by a local Scone identity, the aircraft has emerged expertly finished as the aircraft flown by an Australian Battle of Britain pilot. Pilot…

The DH.83 Fox Moth (VH-UVL) owned by vintage aircraft collector Roy Fox flew again on 10 October at Luskintyre, New South Wales. The Moth has been at Luskintyre since 2012 for refurbishment and emerged resplendent in a 1930s Royal Flying Doctor scheme and bearing the name ‘John Flynn’. It was acquired by Fox in 2002 from Ken Orrman in Shepparton, Victoria. The first test flight was conducted by Paul Ben-net and the owner reported it was “a very successful first flight with just minor snags”. It will be wonderful to see another of this popular type airborne on Australia’s east coast again, as the Fox Moth played a significant part in this country’s early aeromedical services.…

A recent addition to the fantastic collection at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Don Mueang International Airport is Government Aircraft Factory Nomad N22 '46122' formerly flown by 461 'Vampire' Squadron of Wing 46, RTAFB Phitsanulok. A ceremony was held at the base on 18 December 2015 to mark the retirement of the Nomad from RTAF service. On the same day, the final aircraft was flown to the museum. Twenty-two of the type were flown by the RTAF from 1982 and they were used in a wide variety of roles, including rainmaking.…

A completely new-built example of one of Junkers’ most enduring designs, the Junkers F.13, completed its official maiden flight at Dübendorf airfield in Switzerland on 15 September 2016. After seven years of work, test pilot Oliver Bachmann and owner Dieter Morszeck (chief executive of luxury-luggage company Rimowa) lifted the aircraft into the air to the cheers of invited guests. This recreation, HB-RIM, was designed and built by Swiss and German aviation specialists Ju-Air and Kaelin Aero Technologies. The first F.13 flew in 1919 and was a revolutionary design when wood and fabric biplanes were the norm. Sadly, a complete set of plans for the world’s first all-metal passenger aircraft do not exist. The French Musée de l'air et de l'espace, le Bourget, Paris allowed its example to be copied, although…

The Stinson airliner story covers a transition period in local aerial transportation. When they were introduced, some of the commercial aircraft still required the leather-coated helmet and goggle type of pilot and this, in a way, brushed off on the passengers. Some things were, in a comparative manner, still with the roaring twenties. Passengers felt they were intrepid heroes, nonchalant in the face of danger. The Depression was still with us, but the local paying passenger had seen little of what was to come. Only the brief appearance of Parmentier and Moll in the Douglas DC-2 and Roscoe Turner in the Boeing Model 247 during the MacRobertson Air Race of 1934, from London to Melbourne, illustrated that old-type airliners were on the decline. Airlines of Australia Ltd were thinking progressively,…

Lloyd Stearman is one of those aircraft designers who played a far more significant hand in post-W.W.I aviation than many realise. He gave his name to a couple of iterations of his business, and in so doing worked with the likes of ‘Matty’ Laird, Walter Beech and Clyde Cessna, while the histories of Travel Air, Boeing and even Lockheed, where he designed the Model 10 and became president in 1932, would be grossly incomplete without mention of his name and achievements. An architect by trade, Stearman took the leap in 1919, and a sizeable pay cut, into aviation when he joined Laird and Jake Moellendick as they were developing a three-seat biplane, the Swallow, that was ultimately unsuccessful. Stearman was made chief engineer of the Swallow Airplane Company five years…

The youngest competitor in the Unlimited Gold Class race, Steven Hinton Jr, came home with a win in the highly modified P-51D Mustang ‘Voodoo’ at this year’s Reno air races. It was the third time this particular combination had swept all before it. The 53rd National Championship Air Races held in Reno, Nevada, 14-19 September, was a great success despite a series of ups and downs. Only eleven aircraft vied for a coveted podium finish in the Unlimited Gold this year. Two popular former champions, Grumman Bearcat ‘Rare Bear’ and Hawker Sea Fury ‘September Fury’, attended the event, but remained on static display. ‘Voodoo’ and Hinton set the pace earlier in the week with a qualifying speed of 475.027mph, while newcomer Jay Consalvi, flying the highly modified Yak-11 ‘Czech Mate’,…

Nine examples of the Curtiss fighter were confirmed to appear for the event, but unforeseen mechanical and weather issues meant only five were able to grace the flightline. The smaller number of star aircraft did not dampen the success of the event, however, as people crowded the airport grounds to catch a glimpse of the famous aircraft. Several Flying Tiger veterans, the men who lived the adventures that have become legend, were on hand to help celebrate the anniversary. Among them were Frank Losonsky, crew chief, and Chuck Baisden, armourer with the 3rd Squadron, ‘Hells Angels’. Also in attendance was Dr. Carl Brown, a flight leader with the 1st Squadron. Other types participating in this year’s event included the Curtiss C-46 Commando and Douglas C-47 Skytrain. These aircraft were on…

Another DH.98 Mosquito has flown in New Zealand. Superbly restored by Avspecs on behalf of Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection (FHC) in Washington State, USA, the much-anticipated first post-restoration flight of TV959 (ZK-FHC) took place at Ardmore on 26 September. The five-year restoration of the T Mk.III dual control Mosquito began in 2011 when the aircraft arrived from overseas. The test pilots for the flight were David Phillips and Keith Skilling who both flew Avspecs’ first Mosquito restoration, KA114 (ZK-MOS, now N114KA), in 2012. It is now resident in the US with Jerry Yagen’s Military Aviation Museum in Virginia. TV959 will continue to wear the temporary markings of NZ2337, a 75 Squadron RNZAF aircraft destroyed in a hangar fire at Ohakea in 1950, as it undergoes further flight-testing before being…

One of the most unique light aircraft of the 1930s will soon return to Australian skies. Michael Stalls’ Miles M.3A Falcon will fly again for the first time in many years. Characterised by its forward-raked windscreen and trousered undercarriage, VH-AAT is one of just three imported into Australia. Powered by the ubiquitous Gipsy Major engine, the Falcon is a compact three/four seater. The aircraft was previously owned by his grandfather, the late Colonel Keith Hatfield. Built in 1935, it arrived in Australia as G-ADHG and was re-registered VH-AAT. Impressed by the RAAF, it served as A37-3 from April 1941 until sold by tender in 1945. Suffering several ground loops during its time in the RAAF and post-war, the Falcon underwent major restorations in the 1980s and 1990s at Casey Airfield,…

Work continues on the restoration of the oldest surviving Corsair, F4U-1 S/N 02270, at Classic Jets Fighter Museum, Parafield, South Australia. Museum Director Bob Jarrett, commenting on the progress, added, “With the winding back of the museum we can focus on the completion of the F4U-1 Corsair. Some display material has been disposed of, along with the museum’s Dassault Mirage III, Avon Sabre and the P-39 Airacobra, and this will now enable space for the final build-up of the Corsair. The museum’s de Havilland Sea Venom will remain on display, along with the hangar’s DH Tiger Moth, DH Chipmunk and two CJ6 Nanchangs.” Bob estimates that the restoration should take about another two years.…

The ferry flight was the culmination of more than eighteen months of preparation involving restoration, licencing, training, financing, logistics, sponsorship and most importantly, time off work for the flight crew. HARS had been looking for a Convair airliner to add to its collection for some time. Although a suitable candidate was sourced in Arizona, work to make it serviceable is considerable. Two aircraft in South Africa, ZS-ARV and ZS-BRV, had been for sale for some time and in 2015 a HARS committee member contacted the owner, Rovos Rail, a private luxury rail operator in South Africa. One of the aircraft, ‘ARV, required maintenance to return it to flying condition and Rohan Vos, the man behind Rovos, generously offered the aircraft as it was. Globetrotter This particular aircraft (serial 54-2820) rolled…

The twenty-minute flight in the Martin Baltimore, during which the instructing pilot tries to tell me how to fly it and, hopefully, how not to fly it, was the only instruction I will have. We land, he climbs out, I take over and off I go, white knuckled. How have I come to this point here in Egypt? As a country kid in the 1920s I dreamed of flying, sketched aeroplanes, made rubber-powered flying models, collected and cashed-in empty bottles, saved the money ready for when the once a year ‘joy-flighter’ landed on the golf course and offered flights for ten shillings. Precious money then for it was in very short supply. A few days after the outbreak of the war, as a quiet, not greatly confident country teen, I…

For nearly four decades, tail gunner Mitsuru Otani remained in the mangled wreckage of the G4M1 ‘Betty’ bomber that, on 12 April 1943, met a fiery end on the southern face of New Guinea’s Mount Albert Edward at 9,500 feet. In late 1982, Otani’s remains were reclaimed by Japanese officials after the wreck was discovered a few months prior. In a macabre twist, local villagers relayed how Otani survived the impact and was trapped inside the tail, calling out for help. Frightened by the crash, they ran away and Otani succumbed to his wounds. Flown by Yoshikatsu Narusawa, this ‘Betty’ bomber (tailcode 378) was assigned to the 751st Naval Air Group (Kokutai). It is likely that a USAAF 39th Fighter Squadron (FS) Lightning piloted by Second Lieutenant Richard Smith shot…

The Airspeed Oxford, like many other W.W.II all-wooden aircraft, survives in small numbers, the majority of which have been reconstructed or rebuilt. Although many were converted to the Consul airliner version post-war, the problems with W.W.II glue, as well as the development of more efficient light feederliners meant that they all were withdrawn from service. A very few were acquired by museums before they were burnt (the all-too-common fate of obsolete wooden aircraft). Further, various parts collections and even one ‘found in a barn’ recovery have since added to the very limited numbers. With the roll-out of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand’s Oxford restoration this year, another complete, display example has been returned to the list, and other individuals and organisations are working on long term restorations of…

Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Leicestershire is the focus of the classic jet scene within the UK. The airfield was a Bomber Command OTU base before becoming the home of Frank Whittle's Power-jets Ltd in the immediate post-war period. The USAF took over the airfield in 1957 as home to their B-47 Stratojets and B-66 Destroyers. Today Bruntingthorpe is the base for numerous classic jet preservation groups. Two open days are held each year which enables the groups to blow the cobwebs away and power down the 3,000 metre runway. Types that carry out fast taxi runs on these days range from the diminutive PZL TS-11 Iskra to Handley Page Victor XM715. One of the most ambitious projects at the airfield has to be Panavia Tornado GR1 ZA326 which will hopefully make…

On 15 September, Wellington Mk.IA 'R for Robert' (N2980) was rolled out of its hangar for the first time since it arrived at Brooklands in September 1985 following recovery from the depths of Loch Ness. The aircraft was treated to a wash after its 31 years on display. Its former home, the Grade II listed transportable Bellman Hangar, in which a large number of the museum’s aircraft were housed, is to be moved. The famous Brooklands racing track is being restored to its pre-war configuration, so the hangar needs to be moved a short distance off the finishing straight of the legendary banked circuit. The rare Bellman hangar will be completely restored as the Brooklands Aircraft Factory before the aircraft are returned. The Wellington is currently housed in a temporary…

The workshops of the Memorial Flight (MF) are located on the far side of Le Bourget Airport at Dugny, near Paris, France. For one weekend each year, the doors are opened to reveal the remarkable work in progress. The MF has established a worldwide reputation for the restoration of First World War aircraft and Gary Brown reviews the current projects for the first time. In further news from France, Gary also visited the Cercle des Machines Volantes at Compiègne to report on two of their current projects.…

Newly back in the UK, Hawker Fury C/No 37539 has been registered as G-CBEL to North Weald Heritage Aviation and repainted into a remarkably original, and appropriate scheme for the type, that of the first prototype Hawker Sea Fury ‘SR661’. Debuting at the Flying Legends airshow, this machine was a popular item at the event in the hands of Richard Grace, and brought back the noise of the aircraft’s original Bristol Centaurus XVIII engine to the UK. This ‘Baghdad Fury’ was a denavalised version sold to Iraq. It arrived there in 1953 and, after retirement from Iraqi use, was one of the famous Ed Jurist and David Tallichet haul of Furies acquired in 1979 and shipped to Orlando, Florida, then New York. Acquired and restored to fly by Bill Laws…

Foreshadowing the iconic Kokoda campaign, and not far from a colonial Anglican mission, Japanese personnel began unloading supplies onto a grey, sandy beach near the northern New Guinea coastal village of Buna on 21 July 1942. Allied leadership, acutely aware of the consequences of the landing, set about organising maximum air opposition. One of the direct outcomes was the loss of RAAF Hudson Mk.IIIA A16-201 on the second day of the landing; not remarkable in itself, save for two factors. First was the way the bomber fought back when outclassed and outnumbered six to one. The second, and no less remarkable, was that one of the enemy pilots would later lobby the Australian government to have the pilot recognised for bravery. Access to both sides of the story provides a…

The Association (AMPA) is the operational branch of the Fondation pour le Maintien du Patrimoine Aéronautique (FMPA) and its origins date from the early 1980s when many old aircraft were unable to be operated under civilian registrations due to their inability to comply with the modern civil aviation regulations. To overcome this problem, FMPA/AMPA was created and, through its activities, managed to modify the applicable legislation. One important step was completed when the Swiss Air Force agreed to supply the new organisation with a Pilatus P-2 that had been retired from service. This signalled the start of the Association’s operation of historic aircraft. Today, AMPA and its associates are also members of various aviation organisations, among which, obviously, are the Swiss Aero Club and the Air Force. The Association is…

Percival’s low wing, all wood Proctor was a military trainer developed from the company’s successful prewar Percival Gull series designed by Australian Edgar Percival. The first Proctor was test flown at Luton, England, on 8 October 1939. It was ordered in large numbers for the RAF and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during W.W.II as a communications aircraft and dual control wireless trainer. The military Proctors were built by the Percival Aircraft Ltd plant at Luton Airport, while large numbers were sub-contracted to the woodworking factory of F. Hills and Sons Ltd in Manchester. All Proctor models were powered by the 210hp (157kW) de Havilland Gipsy Queen II driving a constant speed propeller. At the end of the war, 225 examples of Marks I, II and III were stripped of…

As ever, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) annual Airventure delivered in a big way. Photographer David Leininger was there to capture some of the beautifully restored award-winning aircraft airborne at the event for Flightpath. Although Warbird numbers were down this year, over 560,000 visitors and 10,000 aircraft attended during the week. The US Coast Guard’s centennial was celebrated, as was the 80th anniversary of the Spartan Executive. The EAA’s Young Eagles program, introducing youth to the world of aviation, also achieved a milestone with its two millionth Young Eagle taking to the air. Actor and pilot Harrison Ford flew the lucky passenger. The Martin Mars made its debut and thrilled enthusiasts by operating off Lake Winnebago and making water drops along the airshow’s display line. While it was a first…

After a year's hiatus from its usual biennial pattern, the Old-timer Fly-in was held again in September at Hahnweide in Germany. It is always an impressive sight to see this sleepy grass glider field, nestled in the hills near Stuttgart, become a bustling event hosting more than 300 vintage aircraft and warbirds from across Europe. Among the many highlights this year, in flawless weather, was a rare appearance by the Messerschmitt Foundation's Me 262 replica, and Mikael Carlson, who this year delighted the crowds with energetic routines in his rotary-powered Blériot XI and Fokker Dr.I replica. Amid the gaggles of Jungmanns, Stampes, Stieglitzs and Klemms, were rarities such as a Praga Baby, Kinner Sportster, Curtiss Robin and a Ryan STA. Thomas Leaver brought his 1928 Travel Air 4000 from the…